Some of the problem comes from the culture of gay men themselves. This is called “minority stress” and can be more harmful than many people give it credit for.
No matter who you are, as a gay man you’ve experienced homophobia (whether active or passive) from family, friends, and/or the culture at large. You may have grown up feeling different and separated from the majority.Īfter you’re out of the closet, things don’t necessarily improve right away. Even before you came out to yourself, on some level you might have known you couldn’t fulfill expectations of a heterosexual life. The stress of not being out is emotional more than rational, but it takes its toll. Since everyone is assumed to be heterosexual, we all start out in the closet. Loneliness is, in some ways, part of the gay experience. Let’s explore how you can constructively deal with these feelings and share a life you’re excited to live! Why do gay men get lonely? Sometimes you might struggle with making connections at all, and other times you may feel “alone in a crowded room” because it’s so hard to forge true connections. Unfortunately, feelings of loneliness and isolation are really common in the gay community despite the focus on love and relationships. By Clinton Power, psychotherapist and Gay Therapy Center guest blogger
